We have only one head. Should there not be only "one" consciousness? As we observe ourselves there seems to be only one "observer," but perhaps that singularity is an illusion. Should we be bothered if the brain is capable of having multiple consciousnesses? No.
We have two eyes that function to produce a unified visual process. We all accept this. Why, then, would we have any problems with the possibility that we can have multiple consciousnesses?
Let me extend the metaphor. We are not bothered that a car can have two headlights or even multiple headlights. The number of lights does not "make" a car any less of a car. Why should our conception of a singular "self" change, if multiple consciousnesses exist at the same time in the same head?
I know, this is a weird question, but science is stuck with answering it, and maybe theology too!
Blake Ostler's "The Challenges of (Non-existent?) Mormon Theology" has this provocative statement:
Mormonism has yet to develop a theology of the problem of human consciousness and issues related to its commitment to a type of "spirit matter" or "intelligence" that is uncreated and eternal. These issues have become much more pressing with the advances in brain and cognitive sciences. The relation of the laws of nature and Mormonism's commitment to free will and agency is a particularly important and fundamental theological issue. Indeed, just what is meant by an "intelligence," what it is that is uncreated, and whether individuality is an eternal feature remain critical and bed-rock issues for Mormon thinkers.
Blake Ostler is correct that cognitive neuroscience has presented a number of challenges and dilemmas to LDS thinkers.
One such challenge is the "split brain" phenomenon. This phenomenon refers to those rare patients that have had most or all of their corpus callosum severed, disconnecting the two hemispheres of the brain. This disconnection is usually the result of a surgery attempting to control seizure disorder.
Such "split brain" patients behave quite normally on the surface, but under experimental circumstances, scientists can separately communicate with one hemisphere or the other. Each hemisphere, when separated from the other, is like its own computer, capable of acting on its own.
This finding is NOT new. Nearly every Psych 1 student in the country is required to study it.
Yet, there are implications that extend from the "split brain" phenomenon that require us (the LDS) to rethink our conception of consciousness.
I already have posted my opinion that consciousness is a material phenomenon. Among LDS, this opinion might be in the minority, but I believe there are still good reasons to have this position.
Consciousness is very fragile. It is easily broken because the brain is easily broken. For example, alcohol consumption breaks consciousness (in part) by causing the massive release of the neurotransmitter GABA, resulting in general brain malfunction (that we call inebriation). In Alzheimer's-type dementia, the brain develops the inability to consolidate short-term memories into long-term memories. The primary problem is with a structure of the brain called the hippocampus that is in a state of decay.
There are many such brain disorders that I could list and discuss, but the message would be the same. It is hard to imagine that such disorders have any impact on the eternal human spirit that survives mortality (as taught in LDS doctrine).
Do these views challenge LDS notions of agency? Not really. But, we should place our views of agency into a larger perspective. Agency, it seems to me, is a quantified entity. A patient with advanced Alzheimer's dementia has less "agency" (ability to make choices) than individuals with healthy brains.
If one insists upon arguing that the physical manifestation of "the spirit" is consciousness, then one is faced with the issue of "fragility," such as described above.
To me, we live in a physical and lawful world. Thus, I am not surprised by the scientific conclusion that ALL mental life lies within the physiological operations of the brain via neurons and brain chemistry.
LDS doctrine teaches us that a central purpose to human life on earth was to join our premortal spirit with a physical body. We are to learn and to endure all the physical challenges that this earth life can present.
For some aging individuals, that experience will include mental decline, the result of the malfunction of the multiple computers in our head. A broken brain does not imply a broken spirit. The good news for those with brain ailments is that LDS theology teaches that the human spirit survives, lives on, and learns eternal lessons.
Note: Opposing positions are very welcome in the comments section. I hope to learn from you.
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13 comments:
I have given this a lot of thought and have come to the conclusion, at least for now, that the mind and body is a sensory mechanism that interatcs with the spirit. Consciouness is thus hard to explain without first speaking about the "intelligence" we each have. Intelligence is something that the body alone does not have. But what do I mean by "intelligence"? By that I mean the ability to recognize, be in control and make decisions and also communicate with others and interact with them. For instance-
I highly doubt that there is anything in our physical DNA that encodes for "intelligence". If there was, someone would be able to translate it into a mathematical or chemical code. I believe the DNA can be different from person to person that allows for better brain function or make more chemicals that produce pleasure. That aside, our DNA is not the answer for why we have intelligence.
So it really begs the question of- why is there so much brain activity involved with intelligent interactions? Here is what I believe-
I believe the brain is an activity center that records time and the various senses that we have are connected with and too our spirit intelligence. Thus- when a brain is wired right, as the spirit thinks and comprehends, those connections drive the impulses of the brain that create activity and give in return pleasure or pain.
The brain itself is not capable of decision making, that is not its function. The brain is made to be like a receptor for our intelligence. Just like a female plug end is mated to the male end to operate so it is with our minds. There can be no mental activity without a good connection to our spirit. Sometimes accidents happen or chemicals are introduced that alters that connection and creates alternate paths of communication which ultimately leads to malfunction.
rob osborn
Rob:
Thanks for expressing your views. The dualism that you promote probably is quite similar to the majority view in Latter-day Saint culture. I like the fact that you think deeply about issues, even if you arrive at different conclusions than I do.
As for me, I think of intelligence and spirit as material processes. I am more monist than dualist, but I do not want to push that distinction too hard, as it may be artificial. Even so, I have a hard time trying to conceptualize mind and brain as operating on separate principles.
I still can't shake a sense of "dualism" in the world unfortunately. Anyone who says that consciousness is a material process still has to explain 1. how material processes can give rise to properties (qualia) that seem unrelated to the processes, and 2. how we can still claim any sort of libertarian free will under such a setup. Not that those aren't possible goals, but they're the biggest challenges I think to any monistic system. As for me, I'm pretty convinced by dualism. You might try reading Irreducible Mind by Ed Kelley, which I believe is the best modern defense of consciousness being a different type of "thing" than matter that I've ever read (though it's like a massive textbook).
Syphax:
I find myself more in Dennett's camp on consciousness (but NOT on religion). I am not convinced by the Kelley et al. book. I plead guilty to being a reductionist.
If consciousness is a continuum with various levels, we need to account for the consciousness of other animals. Other primates specifically. Does having a human spirit give us all that much more intelligence than other primates? Yeah, but really, not that much. If our actions are driven by agency stemming from our human spirit, why are our actions so similar to other primates in so many ways?
I think that intelligence is something that people are born with. Why do you think that some people are just so much brighter than others? Very interesting to think about.
Stan:
I agree with you. Other animals have consciousness, even if we have more. Consciousness can be operationalized as reactivity, self-recognition, theory of mind (understanding the intentions of others), and symbolic processing (language). If we could quantify consciousness, then I think we would realize that we have a larger amount (but maybe not a lot more) than some other primates, elephants, whales, dolphins, etc.
The Split-Brain Model of the Gospel
ldsanarchy:
I will allow the link, but please note that I do NOT accept the proposed model therein as either good science or good theology.
A significant problem with "split-brain" popularizations is one of going far beyond the data into the realm of wild speculation. Readers of such popularizations should beware.
What do you find objectionable about the content in ldsanarchy's link? Isn't his point that right-brain, or spiritual, things should appear as bad science to the left brain?
You stated that you have outlined previously that consciousness is a material phenomenon. Yet consciousness is the ground of all being -- consciousness imposes “downward causation“. In other words, only agency is real.
This view does not deny that matter also has causal potency — it does not deny that there is causal power from elementary particles upward, so there is upward causation — but in addition it insists that there is also downward causation. It shows up in our creativity and acts as free agencts, or when we make moral decisions.
How else could God have brought the created universe into existence except thru a non-material phenomenon?
Jay:
My primary objection to the LDSanarchy post is that it seems to presuppose that we have a very clear delineation between right brain function and left brain function. In reality, the lines of function are very blurry.
Contrary to your stance: I do not believe in creatio ex nihil. To me, matter & energy have always existed.
All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence
So before God placed such things into the sphere of the created universe -- such things had no existance.
"...Without [faith] there is no power, and without power there could be no creation nor existence."
So before the universe was brought into existence from a non-existent state be virtue of the faith and agency of God. Further, after it was brought into existence, the universe was organized from an unorganized state by virtue of the same.
How am I misunderstanding these things?
Jay:
I have a little bit different take on those quotations, the last coming from the Lectures on Faith.
Concerning D&C 93:30: my interpretation is that natural law is allowed to operate independently, to act for itself, within its assigned sphere. To me, this is just naturalism. Such is our existence.
Concerning the statement that without power there is no existence, well, that sounds an awful lot like E equals MC-squared to me.
So, sorry, I tend to interpret LDS doctrine as an affirmation of basic science. But, that is just me, I guess.
Thanks for your thoughts.
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